Terry Smith thrilled for Penn State homecoming

Terry Smith got the news he was coming home, and all he could think about was maintaining professionalism.

Don't get him wrong, though. Returning to his alma mater to coach brought out the same excitable attitude he displayed as one of Penn State's most decorated receivers ever.

Smith was one of nine assistant coaches formally announced by Penn State as members of head coach James Franklin's first staff Friday afternoon. But Smith said he knew over the weekend he had the job, when Franklin called to offer it.

"I wanted to scream, but I was on the phone with the boss, so I had to maintain my composure," Smith said. "As soon as I hung up, I was sitting in my car and I just paused and then screamed. It was surreal. It was just so exciting."

Smith coached receivers at Temple last season, but his history is full of accomplishments and legacies left at Penn State.

The diminutive-but-speedy receiver scored 15 touchdowns during his playing days from 1988-91, becoming a fan favorite and earning himself the nickname "Superfly."

His father went to Penn State. Smith played there and his stepson, Justin King, was one of the biggest recruits the program landed in the 2000s. So Smith says there's plenty of reasons for him to come back.

He'll be coaching the cornerbacks for Penn State, but his most important job away from the field may be as the defensive recruiting coordinator.

He'll also be the man in charge of recruiting the Pittsburgh area, a job integral to Franklin's "Dominate the State" mantra.

For sure, Smith has the credentials to do the job. For more than a decade, he coached at Gateway High School, which became a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League power under his watch and regularly churned out top Division I talent.

"That is such an important area," defensive line coach and Smith's longtime friend Sean Spencer said. "There's a lot of great football players in Pittsburgh. I think if we can get those types of kids to help build our tradition, it's going to be unbelievable. And, I think Terry, being a high school coach there, and multiple guys have a connection in Pittsburgh on our staff, we can do a really good job there."

Smith is a bit less familiar with cornerback play than he is the ins and outs of high school football in Pittsburgh, but he does have an in as far as that goes.

He said King was similarly ecstatic when news came that Penn State would add him to the staff, and Smith said he plans to use him as a sounding board.

Christian Hackenberg came to Penn State because Bill O'Brien sold him on Penn State. He started every game as a true freshman under O'Brien's tutelage and by season's end, he became a consensus Freshman of the Year winner in the Big Ten.

Even though O'Brien left to coach the Houston Texans, Hackenberg said he didn't consider leaving Penn State.

However, his new coaches know they have to earn their star quarterback's trust.

"It's hard for him, because he had such a good relationship with coach O'Brien," offensive coordinator John Donovan said. "I was fortunate enough to work with coach O'Brien in two spots, Georgia Tech and Maryland. I've had communication with him, and I know he loved that kid. I think there are guys here now who he knows will take care of that kid, teach him the right way and keep him progressing the way he will and should."

Spirit squad

Franklin's staff has been on the road almost nonstop for two weeks, trying to keep together and finish off the recruiting class of 2014, and Franklin stressed there isn't one go-to coach on the recruiting trail.

All, he said, will have similar responsibilities.

The reason: He wants to foster a feeling of competition between the coaches, each of whom want to prove they're the best at what they do on the recruiting trail. He also knows well from his days at Vanderbilt that will likely continue onto the practice field.

"We want to create a really competitive environment," Franklin said. "Our practices will be that way. You might see the DB coach and receiver coach get into a fight during practice. I want that. The defensive line coaching the O-line coach going after it. I want the players to see the most competitive environment they possibly can, and same thing on the recruiting trail."

That friendly competition does make practices a bit more fun both to watch and participate in, his offensive coordinator said.

"Me and Bob (Shoop) have gotten into a couple of fistfights," Donovan laughed, before Shoop yelled at him from the doorway to 'Hold on.' "James can stir the pot, as you can probably imagine. There might be a play we think is successful, and just to stir it up, he'll say it's not. That always gets our blood boiling and heats up everything."

Nittany notes

Asked if he had made any kind of decision on whether to keep the last names on the backs of the jerseys - a tradition started in 2012 by O'Brien - Franklin said nothing had been settled. But he did add that "I think it's so, so important that we embrace our past to know where we're going for our future." He said an announcement would be made when a decision is finalized. ... Franklin also announced that Dwight Galt has been named director of performance enhancement and will oversee the strength and conditioning regimen. Barry Gant Jr. and Chuck Losey, who worked under Galt at Vanderbilt, will assist him at Penn State, as well. ... Brian Bell and Dwight Galt IV, who were assistants under former strength and conditioning coordinator Craig Fitzgerald, will continue in those roles. ... Charles Huff will be the special teams coordinator, the first time that position has been filled on Penn State's staff since Larry Johnson Sr. held the post in the late 1990s.

Contact the writer: dcollins@timesshamrock.com

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